It’s a fishing day

Jennings Randolph Lake fishing conditions · Maryland

Tonight 8 pm to Monday 4 amWalleye

The bite peaks at 92. Water is 58°, inside their 50–72° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 87 for walleye, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Walleye, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 874 pm
  2. 83
  3. 83
  4. 837 pm
  5. 88
  6. 88
  7. 8810 pm
  8. 92
  9. 92Sun
  10. 881 am
  11. 88
  12. 88
  13. 884 am
  14. 88
  15. 92
  16. 927 am
  17. 88
  18. 88
  19. 8810 am
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 881 pm
  23. 88
  24. 88
  25. 924 pm
  26. 92
  27. 88
  28. 887 pm
  29. 88
  30. 88
  31. 8810 pm
  32. 92
  33. 92Mon
  34. 921 am
  35. 88
  36. 88
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
58°F

Walleye range 50–72°

Wind
15 mph

From the west

Flow
72.9 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:09 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

4% chance of rain

Air
49°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Maryland non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

92GoTonight 8 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

58°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside walleye's active range. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

15" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 15" minimum, 5 a day (10 in possession), open all year. On the Potomac main stem from about half a mile above Chain Bridge to Cumberland, walleye over 20" must be released Jan 1–Apr 15. Deep Creek Lake and the Youghiogheny below the Route 42 bridge are closed Mar 1–Apr 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec. More on walleye

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

80Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

58°
45°55–78° · ideal 68°88°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside smallmouth bass's active range. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with largemouth, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February. Catch and release is allowed at all times. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

74Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

58°
45°55–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside largemouth bass's active range. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: 12" minimum (or as set by special regulation), 5 bass a day combined with smallmouth, kept only Jun 16 to the last day of February. Catch and release is allowed at all times. Bass may not be used as bait.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Nov. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

74Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

58°
40°50–80° · ideal 65°90°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside crappie's active range. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: no minimum size, 15 a day (30 in possession), open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov. More on crappie

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

74Worth the tripNow until Monday 4 am

Water

58°
42°52–86° · ideal 72°96°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside common carp's active range. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland non-tidal waters: no minimum size, open year-round, 15 a day and 30 in possession.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on common carp

Channel Catfish

Channel catfish

Ictalurus punctatus

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

58°
50°60–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below channel catfish's active range (60–85°F). Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Maryland nontidal waters: no minimum size, 5 a day (10 in possession), open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Maryland non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov. More on channel catfish

The water

  • Water temperature58°F
  • River72.9 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.99 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:09 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:52 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:40 pm–4:40 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

Maryland DNR, Nov 4

Freshwater Fishing. Although the fall trout stocking program has reached its end, there are still plenty of opportunities for put-and-take anglers in the many community ponds and reservoirs that were stocked. If anglers try switching from Powerbait and work the waters distant from the usual stocking locations with spinners, they might be surprised with the trout that are still there. The delayed harvest and catch-and-return trout management waters will provide catch-and-release fishing from now until June. At that time there will be dates when they revert to put-and-take for the summer months. More information about the special trout management areas is on the DNR website.

Quoted from the Maryland DNR weekly fishing report. Reports are what anglers and biologists saw that week, not a forecast.

Licenses and rules: MD DNR · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A US Army Corps of Engineers reservoir straddling the MD–WV border in Garrett County. Approximately 952 acres with public boat ramps and shoreline access. Good walleye and largemouth fishery.

Managed jointly by MD DNR and WV WVDNR; check both states' regs. Free access. Campground on-site.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

North Branch Potomac River — Barnum2 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am
92Go
North Branch Potomac River — Luke3 mi · MarylandBest today 5 pm to tomorrow 9 am
92Go
Savage River Reservoir7 mi · MarylandBest tonight 12 am–8 am
92Go
Deep Creek Lake10 mi · MarylandBest tonight 11 pm to tonight 4 am
86Go
Broadford Lake Park13 mi · MarylandBest tonight 6 pm to tomorrow 10 pm
68Marginal
Piney Reservoir21 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 4 pm–5 pm
60Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Jennings Randolph Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Jennings Randolph Lake you need a Maryland non-tidal fishing license issued by MD DNR (and a separate Maryland trout stamp if targeting trout in non-tidal waters). See the agency's current rules: https://dnr.maryland.gov/pages/service_fishing_license.aspx

What fish are commonly targeted at Jennings Randolph Lake?

Jennings Randolph Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Jennings Randolph Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Jennings Randolph Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Jennings Randolph Lake have?

Jennings Randolph Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Managed jointly by MD DNR and WV WVDNR; check both states' regs. Free access. Campground on-site.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Jennings Randolph Lake?

Maryland DNR non-tidal (inland) regulations apply at Jennings Randolph Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Jennings Randolph Lake tidal water?

No. Jennings Randolph Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.